Tampa Bay Lightning vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction | NHL 23.01.26

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Chicago Blackhawks Game Analysis | 23-01-2026 | NHL

This regular-season matchup on January 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the United Center, Chicago, pits the formidable Tampa Bay Lightning (31-13-4) against the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks (21-22-7). The Lightning, despite recent injury woes, remain a top-tier contender, while the Blackhawks continue to develop their young core around a generational talent.

Tampa Bay Lightning Team Performance

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter this contest with an impressive record, showcasing their consistent excellence. Their offense, spearheaded by perennial MVP candidate Nikita Kucherov, remains potent, capable of dismantling defenses with precision passing and opportunistic scoring. However, the team faces significant challenges due to a spate of key injuries. The absence of Victor Hedman and Brayden Point removes critical offensive and defensive anchors, impacting both even-strength play and their formidable power play. Ryan McDonagh’s absence further stresses their defensive depth. While the Lightning’s system and Andrei Vasilevskiy’s elite goaltending provide a strong foundation, their depth will be severely tested.

Tampa Bay Lightning Key Players

• Points: Nikita Kucherov (73)
• Goals: Brandon Hagel (25)
• Assists: Nikita Kucherov (49)

Injury Report Tampa Bay Lightning

• Ryan McDonagh (Injured reserve): Head coach Jon Cooper said Thursday that McDonagh (lower body) won’t play over the weekend but is now considered day-to-day, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
• Anthony Cirelli (Day-to-day): Cirelli left Tuesday’s game versus the Sharks due to an undisclosed issue, and head coach Jon Cooper didn’t have an update on the center’s status after the game, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
• Brayden Point (Injured reserve): Point (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Friday, per the NHL media site.
• Victor Hedman (Injured reserve): Hedman will undergo elbow surgery Monday and is expected to be out of action until the beginning of February, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports Friday.

Chicago Blackhawks Team Performance

The Chicago Blackhawks are navigating a challenging season, reflected in their sub-.500 record. Their performance is heavily reliant on the offensive brilliance of Connor Bedard, who is proving to be the cornerstone of their future. While Tyler Bertuzzi provides valuable secondary scoring, the team struggles with overall consistency and defensive lapses. Their goaltending tandem has shown flashes but lacks the elite consistency to steal games regularly. Playing at home offers a slight advantage, but the Blackhawks will need a disciplined, high-energy effort to contend with a Lightning team, even one missing key personnel.

Chicago Blackhawks Key Players

• Points: Connor Bedard (48)
• Goals: Tyler Bertuzzi (24)
• Assists: Connor Bedard (28)

Injury Report Chicago Blackhawks

• Teuvo Teravainen (Out): Teravainen (upper body) will not travel with the team for Thursday’s clash with Carolina, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.
• Ryan Ellis (Injured reserve): Ellis (back) and his contract have been traded to Chicago from San Jose, along with Jake Furlong and a 2028 fourth-round pick in exchange for Laurent Brossoit, Nolan Allan and a 2028 seventh-round pick Thursday.
• Shea Weber (Injured reserve): ir-lt

Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Chicago Blackhawks

Despite significant injuries to key players, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s organizational depth, veteran leadership, and the sheer brilliance of Nikita Kucherov give them a distinct edge. The Blackhawks, while showing promise, are not yet equipped to consistently overcome top-tier opponents. The Lightning’s ability to grind out wins, even shorthanded, combined with Vasilevskiy’s goaltending, should be enough to secure a victory. We predict Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (Spread). Given the Lightning’s offensive injuries and the Blackhawks’ struggles to generate consistent offense against strong defensive teams, the total goals prediction is under 5.5.